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| An arch on the coast used to advertise the Great Crack, where parcels are listed for sale. Photos from Zillow |
GREAT CRACK LANDS, makai of Hwy 11 between Pahala and Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park, have been funded for purchase by the National Park Service, but are up for sale on real estate listings by a private landowner group, led by Ken Fujiyama, of Mana Land Co.
One 70.03-acre parcel is listed at $3.85 million. The Zillow online real estate listing says: “This particular parcel is the favorite fishing area for many `ulua” fishermen. Another 27.05-acre parcel is listed at $1.755 million. The listing says, “Great fishing in a totally stress free environment that people dream about but rarely ever find.” Another 272.28 acres is listed for $2.983 million. Its northern boundary “butts against the National Park wilderness area,” the listing says. “The roadway from the top of the property to its lowest point sits on the southern boundary. We will create an easement from the end of the roadway to the National Park boundary so the owners of (adjacent parcels) will have an access to visit the Park for fishing, hiking and camping. All camping within the park will need permits issued by the National Park,” the real estate listing notes.
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| A parcel for sale on the area of the Great Crack includes one mile of shoreline, according to the listing. |
Another 1,537 acres at the Great Crack are listed for $8.45 million. “Beautiful, barren and totally isolated, this oceanfront property is so unique that the National Park Service has listed on their ‘to acquire’ property. Owner does not have to sell to the National Park,” the listing states. It also says, “The fishing is fantastic along this coastline. There are three small ancient Hawaiian pads, a few petroglyphs and a few small historical sites on this property. There is a 300-foot conservation area setback and a 500-foot Special Management Area district setback from the coastline. The remaining area is zoned agriculture-20 acres. The top of the property sits at the 1,000-feet elevation and is three miles to the coastline. The oceanfront boundary is over a mile long.”
The lands are the site of many cultural remains including native Hawaiian house sites and fishing villages, caves where Hawaiian travelers took overnight rests, and lava tubes, which are well known among spelunkers, who have explored the underground tubes and the Great Crack itself - as wide and deep as 60 feet descending into the earth.
Fujiyama and his group purchased the Great Crack area from former Ka`u sugar company and its owner C. Brewer after it became known that the National Park Service was interested in buying it to add onto Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. He has been involved in several negotiations to sell the property to the federal government. Fujiyama was also the former operator of Volcano House hotel and its restaurant and store concessions.
In its 2016 budget, the National Park Service received funding to purchase 1951 acres in the Great Crack area. The Park Service is planning an appraisal and title search to move forward with the acquisition. The Park Service is prohibited by law from purchasing any land at a higher price than its appraisal.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar.
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SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
The lands are the site of many cultural remains including native Hawaiian house sites and fishing villages, caves where Hawaiian travelers took overnight rests, and lava tubes, which are well known among spelunkers, who have explored the underground tubes and the Great Crack itself - as wide and deep as 60 feet descending into the earth.
Fujiyama and his group purchased the Great Crack area from former Ka`u sugar company and its owner C. Brewer after it became known that the National Park Service was interested in buying it to add onto Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. He has been involved in several negotiations to sell the property to the federal government. Fujiyama was also the former operator of Volcano House hotel and its restaurant and store concessions.
In its 2016 budget, the National Park Service received funding to purchase 1951 acres in the Great Crack area. The Park Service is planning an appraisal and title search to move forward with the acquisition. The Park Service is prohibited by law from purchasing any land at a higher price than its appraisal.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar.
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| Ka`u residents can reduce mosquito breeding areas by taking trash tires to transfer stations. Photo by Bob Martin |
TIRE COLLECTION CONTINUES at Hawai`i County transfer stations through April 8. Due to the recent dengue fever outbreak on Hawai`i Island, the Department of Environmental Management, Solid Waste Division implemented the Temporary Dengue Residential Tire Amnesty Collection Program to aid the community in reducing the risk of mosquito breeding sites by recycling old tires.
Households may bring in passenger vehicle, motorcycle or ATV tires with no rims to any of the Solid Waste Division's 22 Recycling & Transfer Stations during normal operating hours. Customers must locate the Solid Waste Facility Attendant on duty, who will instruct the customer where to properly place the tires.
There is a 10-tire limit per day per vehicle to fairly serve the public and ensure that one customer doesn’t overload the site and unnecessarily prevent other customers from participating in the temporary collection.
The county is not accepting tires from businesses, commercial haulers, nonprofits or farms. It is also not accepting industrial tires (e.g. backhoe, tractor, forklift, etc.).
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar.
There is a 10-tire limit per day per vehicle to fairly serve the public and ensure that one customer doesn’t overload the site and unnecessarily prevent other customers from participating in the temporary collection.
The county is not accepting tires from businesses, commercial haulers, nonprofits or farms. It is also not accepting industrial tires (e.g. backhoe, tractor, forklift, etc.).
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar.
SENATE BILL 83, MAKING its way through the state Legislature, transfers $3 million from Hawai`i Tourism Authority to University of Hawai`i’s athletic department for teams’ travel expenses.
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| George Szigeti |
“Reducing HTA’s budget will force us to make funding cutbacks to community programs valued by residents statewide, and to our tourism marketing,” HTA President and CEO George Szigeti said.
“HTA brings a holistic approach to marketing Hawai`i, showcasing culture, unique experiences and sports events to share our islands with the world,” Szigeti said. “We are also supporting local nonprofits that present 162 events, festivals and programs statewide to perpetuate Hawai`i’s culture, environment and community spirit. These are nonprofits that rely on our funding support.” In Ka`u, HTA is a sponsor of Ka`u Coffee Festival.
HTA this week announced the best January ever in terms of total visitor arrivals that pumped $1.5 billion into the economy and generated $155.6 million in state tax.
“Despite this recent record of success, HTA needs to stay aggressive with Hawai`i’s tourism marketing and have its entire budget available,” Szigeti said. “Everyone knows how quickly outside forces, such as an economic downturn, can affect how travelers spend their money and where they choose to vacation.
“Taxpayers demand that HTA make the best use of its state funding to support Hawai`i’s tourism industry. We are meeting that expectation with a judicious, diversified marketing plan that has now attracted record totals of domestic and international travelers for 11 straight months.
“However, history has taught us time and again that success for Hawai`i tourism can never be assumed. It’s imperative we continue to be aggressive with our marketing of the Hawaiian Islands, while showing visitors the aloha and unique experiences they come here to enjoy.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar.
“Despite this recent record of success, HTA needs to stay aggressive with Hawai`i’s tourism marketing and have its entire budget available,” Szigeti said. “Everyone knows how quickly outside forces, such as an economic downturn, can affect how travelers spend their money and where they choose to vacation.
“Taxpayers demand that HTA make the best use of its state funding to support Hawai`i’s tourism industry. We are meeting that expectation with a judicious, diversified marketing plan that has now attracted record totals of domestic and international travelers for 11 straight months.
“However, history has taught us time and again that success for Hawai`i tourism can never be assumed. It’s imperative we continue to be aggressive with our marketing of the Hawaiian Islands, while showing visitors the aloha and unique experiences they come here to enjoy.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar.
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| Sen. Brian Schatz |
U.S. CENTERS FOR MEDICARE & MEDICAID Services announced that Hawai`i will receive federal assistance through the Medicaid Innovation Accelerator Program to help address homelessness in the state.
“It is a real victory for the state of Hawai`i to successfully compete for this federal program,” said Sen. Brian Schatz, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development. “We know that the key to solving homelessness is providing housing and tailored services together. Through this program, we can maximize resources and change lives for the better.”
The CMS program will provide resources to help the state coordinate with other agencies to design and implement a plan to increase individual tenancy support for Medicaid beneficiaries who are chronically homeless and expand housing development opportunities.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar.
The CMS program will provide resources to help the state coordinate with other agencies to design and implement a plan to increase individual tenancy support for Medicaid beneficiaries who are chronically homeless and expand housing development opportunities.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar.
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| Judge Lucy Koh |
SEN. MAZIE HIRONO APPLAUDED President Obama’s nomination of Lucy Koh to serve on the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
“Lucy Koh’s experience on the federal bench, in private practice and as a prosecutor, make her a qualified candidate to serve on the Ninth Circuit, whose jurisdiction includes Hawai`i, and I look forward to supporting her confirmation in the United States Senate,” Hirono said. “I support President Obama’s continued commitment to ensuring that our nation’s federal courts are fully staffed with quality individuals who reflect the diversity of our country.”
Koh currently serves as a district court judge for the Northern District of California. She is the first Korean American woman to serve as an Article III judge and, upon confirmation, would become the fifth active Asian American and Pacific Islander federal appellate judge.
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals’ jurisdiction includes Hawai`i, California, Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands.
Koh currently serves as a district court judge for the Northern District of California. She is the first Korean American woman to serve as an Article III judge and, upon confirmation, would become the fifth active Asian American and Pacific Islander federal appellate judge.
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals’ jurisdiction includes Hawai`i, California, Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar.
SPAGHETTI DINNER, SILENT AUCTION and bake and craft sales raise funds for Ka`u Hospital today from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Purchase $10 dinner tickets from Nadine Ebert at 938-5124.
JAZZ IN THE FOREST today features the guitar artistry of Curt Warren, Jr. Volcano Choy with the Volcano Art Center Jazz Ensemble and a special hana hou appearance by Jeannine Guillory.
Performances begin at 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Tickets will be sold at the door if still available.
Performances begin at 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Tickets will be sold at the door if still available.
KILAUEA MILITARY CAMP’S Crater Rim Café in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park offers Mongolian BBQ today from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. $.85 per ounce includes protein, veggies, noodles and a beverage. KMC is open to authorized patrons and sponsored guests. Park entrance fees apply.
HAWAI`I STATE LEGISLATURE BEGAN its mandatory five-day recess Thursday and reconvenes on Thursday, March 3. During the recess, Sen. Russell Ruderman is holding talk story sessions, with one at Pahala Plantation House on Tuesday, March 1 at 6 p.m. to discuss the current legislative session and hear Ka`u constituents’ concerns.
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
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| See kaucalendar.com/TheDirectory2016.html. |
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| See kaucalendar.com/KauCalendar_February2016.pdf. |
